Winter Storm Finn live updates: Southeast braces for tornadoes as severe weather to bring travel chaos

The Gulf Coast is bracing for tornadoes today amid a major storm in the region.

The National Weather Service has warned severe thunderstorms capable of strong wind gusts and tornadoes are expected across the Gulf Coast States this afternoon.

The agency added that the severe weather will continue into Tuesday morning in southeast Texas and southern Louisiana across southern Mississippi, southern Alabama to the western Florida Panhandle.

“Severe thunderstorms capable of strong wind gusts and tornadoes are expected across the Gulf Coast States this afternoon through early Tuesday morning, spanning southeast Texas and southern Louisiana across southern Mississippi, southern Alabama to the western Florida Panhandle,” the NWS said.

Blizzard warnings have been issued in several states amid a major storm across the southeast of the US.

Warnings were in effect from northeast Arizona up to southern Nebraska, where up to a foot of snow had fallen by Monday morning.

A tornado hit Fort Lauderdale, Florida over the weekend, causing an explosion.

The tornado hit power cables in the city of Fort Lauderdale, causing a generator to explode.

Fort Lauderdale officials said in a Facebook post that no injuries have been reported, and the damage from the storm appears to be minor.

The Weather Channel’s senior meteorologist Chris Dolce called has called Finn a “kitchen sink storm.”

A kitchen sink storm described a storm that causes many hazards at once, according to Mr Dolce.

Storm Finn is expected to bring rainfall, strong winds, snow and tornadoes to the southeast of the US on Monday.

“Finn’s threats cover a broad spectrum and the storm is just getting underway in the West,” Mr Dolce said.

“Areas from the Central Plains to the upper Midwest and parts of the western and northern Great Lakes will see a combo of snow and strong winds, contributing to low visibility and dangerous travel conditions Monday through Tuesday,” he added.

Tornadoes could hit multiple states on Monday amid a powerful storm in the southeast of the US.

Storm Finn is expected to bring tornadoes to cities including New Orleans, Louisiana, Gulfport, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama.

The threat of dangerous nighttime tornadoes may ramp up Monday night and early Tuesday, especially from southeast Louisiana to southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.

Strong winds could cause flash flooding along the eastern Gulf Coast and much of the East Coast, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

Between one to three inches of rainfall is expected in the Gulf Coast, stretching to New England, while rainfall in isolated locations could exceed four inches.

“Widespread and potentially significant river and flash flooding are likely from the central Gulf Coast through much of the Eastern U.S. early this week,” the Weather Prediction Center said. “Powerful onshore winds will lead to widespread coastal flooding along the eastern Gulf Coast and much of the East Coast.”

There’s serious concern for flooding in the Northeast with this next wave of rain coming right after a previous snowstorm dropped more than half a foot of snow in multiple Northeast states.

Meanwhile, there is a Level 3 out of 4 risk for flooding in portions of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania on Tuesday. A Level 2 of 4 threat spans nearly the entire path of the first storm – from Georgia through Massachusetts.

A Level 3 of 4 risk for flooding is also in place along the western coast of Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle for the flood potential from the initial round of rain on Monday.